“We need futurology of ecology” – Zoe de Luca

The New Ecologies theme focused on discussing the ways in which our relationship with nature is shaped and re-shaped through language? Explore the process, ideas and debates around this topic which took place at the event through the detailed round table and workshop results below.

In the wake of the environmental crisis we look for new ways to protect biodiversity in and outside of cities. Looking for new possibilities for nature and cities to coexist we have already found: biodegradable materials, new ways of remediation, renewable energy or urban farming. But at the same time, progressing human interference with natural processes seems to make us lose faith in the very existence of nature proclaiming our time as anthropocene or capitalocene.

During several workshop sessions spread over 2 days and two thematic sections (words & stories) groups of participants collectively reflected on the changes in contemporary vocabulary, the ways in which they influence the discourse on the relationship between the urban environment and nature, and explored possibilities of actively shaping both the way we communicate and live.

Taking as a starting point the shortlist of terms submitted through the open call the workshop focused on refining that list and defining core terms and concepts, which were used in the following two workshop sessions: 'terms on trial' and 'narratives'. The selection process and discussion within the group and between the groups was the starting point to exchange different readings and pick most interesting terms to be discussed in detail in the following sessions.

Terms on trial workshop focused on debating layered meanings and associations of terms that are used and abused in contemporary urban discourse. The New Ecologies team selected terms: shrinking cities and grace. Those were passed on to two independent groups who respectively prosecuted and defended the terms as if they were on trial. The public vote determined which arguments were more convincing.

What is the lived experience of a ‘symbiosis’? How is ‘ecological value’ experienced in the central square of our future city? What kind of character and what kind of story could illustrate that? We asked the workshop participants to paint an imaginary picture of how these terms could be experienced as tangible outcomes. How can they shape the world we live in? Each group worked with 4 terms (one per each category: New Ecologies, Urban Assets, Digital Toolkit and New Collectives) in 4 cycles of collective writing.